- How effectively did the Liberal reforms of 1906-1914 deal with the problems of poverty in Britain in the early 20th century ?Britain in the early 1900s faced a multitude of problems from poverty. Reports from Booth and Rowntree highlighted the extent of the problem and the Liberal government felt forced to act in order to retain the working class vote. Therefore between 1906 and 1914 they passed a series of reforms which signalled a move away from the laissez faire philosophy of previous governments. In an attempt to reduce poverty, Acts of Parliament were passed to provide children with free school meals and medical inspections. Also, the Liberal government recognised that workers needed government help when unemployed or sick. Furthermore, the Liberals were the first to recognise that older people suffered from poverty and took steps to provide them with financial help. However, the success of the reforms and the impact they had on the evils that plagued Britain is questionable. Though they were the widest range of reforms ever passed at that time were at best piecemeal and in reality they solved none of the problems Britain faced in 1906.
Britain faced many problems in 1906, caused by the widespread issue of poverty. The problems facing Britain later became known as the “five evil giants”: squalor, disease, want, idleness and ignorance. ‘Want’ namely poverty was a major problem in a society where the working class faced low pay, long hours and a lack of regular paid work, if you did not work, your family did not eat. Most jobs were seasonal or subject to periods of unemployment. Squalor or slum housing in each major town and city who all had very poor and overcrowded housing. The diseases of poverty was a major problem, clean water had got rid of major epidemics of diseases like Cholera but diseases such as TB, Scarlet Fever, Polio and Rickets swept through the slums. One solution seemed to be compulsory education until the age of 13 yet this was...